KREN-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = KREN-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = KREN 27
analog = 27 (UHF)
digital = 26 (UHF)
other_chs = KREN-LP 29 Susanville CA
affiliations = The CW
network =
founded =
airdate = October 8, 1986
location = Reno, Nevada
callsign_meaning = RENo
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Pappas Telecasting Companies
licensee = Reno License, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Univision (1980s-mid 1990s)
The WB (mid 1990s-1998)
The WB/Pax TV (1998-2000)
Pax TV (2000-2002)
The WB (2002-2006)
effective_radiated_power = 1820 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 891 m (analog)
894 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 51493
coordinates = coord|39|18|47|N|119|53|4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.kren.com/ www.kren.com]

KREN-TV is a full-service television station in Reno, Nevada, broadcasting locally in analog on UHF channel 27 and in digital on UHF channel 26. It is an affiliate of The CW, with most of its programming coming from The CW Plus Founded March 1, 1982, the station is owned by Pappas Telecasting of Visalia, California. KREN-TV is rebroadcast in Susanville, California on KREN-LP, UHF channel 29.

For a few years in the early 2000s, KREN was the local PAX affiliate, while The WB was carried on a cable-only channel known by the fictitious call letters KWBV ("WB6"). In 2002, the WB affiliation was moved back to KREN. What is now ION Television currently has no affiliate in Reno.

KREN's sister station in Reno is KAZR-CA, which is TuVision Spanish language affiliate. Both stations are housed in a 8500 sq ft glass-walled facility at the Meadowood Mall in south Reno.

Bankruptcy

On May 10, 2008, 13 of Pappas' stations, including KREN-TV and KAZR-CA, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. Pappas cited "the extremely difficult business climate for television stations across the country" in papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. The company reported in court filings that it has more than $536 million in debt and $460 million in assets. Problems that led to bankruptcy included poor performance of The CW network, its now-former involvement with Azteca America, and preparations for the 2009 analog shutdown. [http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,99461.0.html]

On September 17, 2008 bankruptcy trustee E. Roger Williams put KREN under contract to Entravision Communications for $4 million, which would double as a minimum bid for the station as it goes up for auction in late October. [http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/09/24/daily.7/]

News operation

On December 27 2006 KREN launched a one hour newscast at 10 p.m., the first HD newscast on a CW station, as well as Reno's only primetime local newscast. The station adopted the "Videojournalist" model of news gathering whereby the reporter is also the photographer and editor. On June 1, 2007 KREN severed its ties with local ABC affiliate KOLO-TV, which originally produced a 10PM newscast for KREN.

Weekend 10 p.m. shows were launched in late 2007.

In January 2008, all KREN newscasts were scaled back to 30 minutes, instead of the previous 1 hour. Weekend KAZR Spanish language newscasts were canceled, but the weekday KAZR news shows remained an hour long.

On March 11, 2008, KREN and KAZR cancelled all newscasts, and dismissed the entire news staff. Pappas Telecasting cited low advertising revenue as the reason for the cancellation.

Nine contracted news employees filed a class action lawsuit against Pappas and KREN/KAZR on March 25, 2008. They are seeking compensation for the remainder of their contacts as well as other damages.( [http://www.kren.com/Global/story.asp?S=7999679] , [http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080312/NEWS10/803120431] )

Former News Team

•Eric Lupher - Weekday Anchor/Reporter
•Kassata Edwards - Weekday Anchor
•Ted Land - Weekend Anchor/Reporter
•Karoline Wightman - Weekend Weather/Reporter
•Pablo Gutierrez - KAZR Anchor
•Laura Calzada - KAZR Anchor
•Jeff Martinez - Meteorologist
•Louis Santiago - Chief Videojournalist
•Wendy Garcia - Videojournalist
•Anthony Scanio - Videojournalist
•Haydee Acebo - Videojournalist
•Lee Adams - Weekend Sports Anchor
•Heather Blank - Videojournalist
•Jackie Diaz - Videojournalist
•Mike Dinow - Anchor
•Mariano Lemus - KAZR Sports Anchor
•Alex Limon - Videojournalist
•Katie Nielsen - Anchor
•Vanessa Vancour - Videojournalist
•Laurence Wallace - Videojournalist
•Greg Knight - Videojournalist

External links

* [http://www.kren.com/ KREN website]
*TVQ|KREN
*BIA|KREN|TV|TV